School employee's encouragement of student gets him belled

What: Ben’s Bells promote kindness and community involvement. Each week a person who makes Tucson better is “belled.”

Last week’s recipient: Shawn Sanchez.

Nominated by: Dawn Gerhart.

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Why: For being an integral part of the Coyote Trails Elementary family, where he is the maintenance supervisor. Particularly, for his encouragement and bond with a student at the school. The special needs student receives encouragement from Sanchez and has made great strides in her physical capabilities. Sanchez visits her during the school day to see how she is doing and helps her mother push her wheelchair into class. The student had major surgery and was unable to attend school for a while, so Sanchez and a teacher visited her at home to see how she was doing. “Mr. Shawn epitomizes love, respect and encouragement and he demonstrates this everyday with the students at Coyote Trail Elementary but none more so than with this special student with which he has bonded,” Gerhart wrote in her nomination letter.

More info and to nominate someone: Go to bensbells.org/BellingForm to submit a name. Go to bensbells.org or call 622-1379 for more information.